ROUND1 Japan Cup is an annual PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) and JPBA (Japan Professional Bowling Association) bowling event sponsored by ROUND1. In its earlier years, the tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, but has recently enjoyed an expanded field. It has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. Until Yuya Katoh's win in 2013, the last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.
The tournament celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010. The 2010 Dydo Japan Cup featured a starting field of 144 bowlers, which included JPBA members from Japan and South Korea, PBA members, and Japanese amateurs.[1]
The event was not held in 2011, due in large part to the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan.
The 2013 edition of the Japan Cup was held from November 28 through December 1, 2013.[2] The top 16 PBA Tour players (based on 2012-13 competition points), plus a handful of at-large PBA Tour invitees, joined a large field of players from Japan and South Korea.[3]